Number-displaying device.



i suitable portion of the framework of the niaaccident or vio lanterns does not shine distinctly on the Unirsn srafrn SIDNEY E. FLORSHEIM, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS SHEIM, ONE-FOURTH TO LEONARD FLOHSUICIM,

rLoasHEIM, or cIIIcAeo, ItIIsoIs.

, ASSIGNOR OF ONEJPOURTH TO SIMON FLOR- AND ONI1-lf`OURl`11l 'lO NORMAN S.

NUMBER-DISPLAYING DEVICE.

Application filed November 111, 1908. Serial No. 462,714.

To all whom it 'may concern.:

Be it known thatI, SIDNEY E. FLonsnniM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ubicago, in the county ofC-ook and State of Illi- 5 nois, have-invented'certain new and useful Improvements in Number-Displaying Devices, of-Which the following is a specification. f 4 In most'municipalities and other districts 10 automobiles `are required to carry license numbers conspicuously displayed on the rear of the machine, for purposes of identitication, andhitherto it has been the customary practiceto-hang such number plates to a chine and below the rearlights, the idea being to display the number in such a manner vthat it can be distinguished from the rear, which is particularly important in cases of lation of the speed laws, in order toperrnit proper identification. 'Experience has sho-wn that the numbers so displayed are usually indistinguishable at night or the reason that the light from the rear number plate, very frequently merely serving'to dazzle the eyes of an observer, so that `ident'iiication is impossible.

The object of the present invention is to provide an illuminating,` number late so iitted to the rear lantern that the ligrlit there from will bring out the numbers or other indicating characters with. such distinetness as to render identification easy and certain.

A further object :if the invention is to so combine the number plate with the lantern that an easy and convenient mounting will be provided for the number` plate, thereby obviating the necessity,r forsproviding addi- 40 tional .attachingT means for the number plate.

A further object oi the invention is to so direct the light from the lantern that it will clearly illuminate the number plate without tending to dazzle the eyes of the observer,

which permits the number to be distinguished at avery much greater distance than -is ordinarily possible under present condi;

tions.

lFurther objects will appear from a detailed description of the invention, which consists in the features of construction and combination of parts hereinafter described and Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 23, 1909.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a front elevation of an automobile lantern, with the indicating device attached thereto; Fig. 2 a top or plan View ot the same; 'Fig. 3 an inside end elevation of the indica-ting device; and Fig. -l an outside end elevation of the same.

The inventionis applied to an automobile lantern 5 of any usual and well known type, having a d anger light 6, preferably red, which is intended to be displayed to the rear of the machine. The lantern is provided with a door frame 7, which is formed to have a bead or llange 8 around its inner edge, which frame is preferably secured to the lantern by means of a hinge 9 of the usual character.

The indicating device is in the form of a casing 10, the rear side ol' which of substantially semi-cylindrical formation at, its

'rear end 11, and extends diagonally forward therefrom.toward itsouter end l2, which outer end is of substantially flat formation, giving the casing a straight outer edge 13, which edge is in substantial alinemcnt with the Vfront sideI of the lantern, shown in Fig. 2. In speaking of frontl and rear, it. will be understood that these terms have reference to the display side of the indicating device and not to the position of the lantern as regarde the automobile upon which it will ordinarily be carried. The curved rear side of the casing merges into substantially liat top and bottom walls 14 and l5 respectively, giving to the casino, as a whole, a substan tially wedge shape Iorm ation llat on its front side and curved on its rear side. The front side of the easing, which is preferably composed of a shiny metal, like tin, is open to re eeive anumber plate 15'Ll which preferabl f in the form of a glass plate opaqucd by blac paint or similar opaquing substance, except as to the numbers 16, or other indicating characters, at which points the glass is left clear. Obviously, a plate of metal or similar material having the numbers or characters cut therein, could be emplo ied in place of-a glass plate, although the ,o t

for the reason that i't prevents the ingress of mud,'dirt or dust into the interior of the easing. The indicating plate is held in position on its top, bottom and end edges by means of ilanged formed on or secured te the casing around the top, bottom and ,outer end thereof, perguideways 17, which` are 0 Kiss is preferable rnitting the indicating plate te be slipped in from the inner end el the easing adjacent the lantern.

The inner end of the easing is provided with a flat end Wall 18, 'which is eut away to provide a circular opening 19 of a size to perto be entered i mit the circular door frame 1 thereinto, and the easing, as a Whole, is clamped onto the lantern by means et spring clips 2() which are adapted to be sprung over the 'flange 8 of the door frame, thereby tightly clamping the easing onto the lantern. The lantern is provided on its rear side with a socket 21 of the usual character, which adapted to be slipped onto a suitable braeke not shown, on the automobile. /l

In use, the lantern will be lighted ,and mounted in the usual manner, and the/rays of the lantern Will shine out through the" door and direct against the Curved inner surface of the easing, which is brightened or mirrored to serve as a. relleetor, and which, being set at an angle with respect to the projection oi the rays ol' light, Will retleet the light out through the transparent portions of the nurnber plate, thereby serving to clearly bring out the numbers or other indicating eliaraeters thereon. The tapered formation of the casing is one which seri/es to rel'leet most of the light directed into the easing, so that' the numbers will be brought out with great distinetness, and will be 'visible at a very con-- siderable distance. ylhe device is one which can be very easily fastened onto or removed from a lamp of the ordinary character, and which does not interlere with the use o'l the lamp in any Way. llhe casing being clamped onto the door, can be opened and closed therewith, or entirely removed therclroin occasion may require, and the easing is so arranged that the number plate can be easily removed for cleaning or substitution. Although the invention has been described for use in connection *with automobiles, it is obvious that it ean be used on other vehieles, or in places Where it is desired to display numbers or other indieating characters.

Although the indicating deviee has been.

hitherto deseribed for night service, it is intended to serve to dis-play the license number of the automobile during the day tiine, so that it will not be neeessary to prov'idi` ad ditional number plates or other indicating devices. For day service, in order to seeure the best results, it is (.lesirable to provide a thin White baeking plate 22, which is of a size and shape which adapt-s it to be slipped into the guideways behind the .i'iuinber plate,

in which position it vwill show through the transparent portions ol the number plate, thereby showing sueh portions el" the plate in their distinct contrast with the opaque portions of the plate and serving to bring out the indicating numbers with great distinctnes lt not. intended htn'eyer, to limit the inH yentiony to use with such a baeliing plate, since the relieeting surface behind the nuniber plate will show through the trai'isparent portions et the number plate Twith considerable distinetness. ln speaking ot transpar-Y ,f/ent portions, it is not intended to limit the invention to complete transjiai'eney of the glass, sinee it may be desirable to render the glass only semi-transparent, as by frosting or similar means.

lVliatl regard as nenv and des-.ire to seeiire by Letters Patent is:

l. lin eombination with a lr "ern, :i nuinber displaying defiee eeinpi hg a easing having an inner end Wall open to receive the door frame of the lantern, and l'urlhcr coniprising a rear nail eiti'inding obliijuely with respect to the projection ot the rays ot light from the lantern, the casing being open ai ha front side, anda nunibcr plate removably mounted Within the front side olt the rasdng, substantie-ll as described.

2. In combination with a lantern, a nuni ber displaying device comprising a easing having an inner end 'Wall open to receive the door frame of the lantern, and further coinprising a rear wall extending o blioxuely with respect to the projeelion el' ihe rays oi" light troni thelantern, the 'asing Angopcn at its liront side, and a number plate rrinoi'ahly mounted Within the front side ol the casing,

and lying in a plane sul.. l

keniiaily parallel with the projection el the raya ol' light, suhstantially as deseribed.

I. ln combination with a lantern, a nurnproyided with an inner end wall hating an opening ot a size to reeeiye the door `lranic oi" the lantern, the easing having a rear 'Wall W'itnefises: Y

Waimea liinxixo, liicnsoN W. liANNia'ii.

ber displaying device comprising a casing rounded at its inner end and llat at its outer 

